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The Great Foodening - PAX Foodie Destinations

Reading through previous PAX threads, it looks to me like eating at the convention center is pricey and not worth it. As a Seattle newb and a self proclaimed food lover, I would like to compile a list of awesome places to eat that are close enough to the convention center that someone can walk or catch a quick cab/bus to go eat there.

As people post places in the thread, post it in the following format and I will update the OP with all of them.

This is a place I have wanted to go since I saw Anthony Bourdain eat there. It is a little sandwich joint owned by Mario Batali's father Armandino. The cure all of their own meats there. Pancetta, Salami, Proscuitto, Hot Sopressata mmmmmmm.

When Blue C is too busy and you need your sushi roll fix, Sushi Maki is excellent. Rolls the size of your forearms made in a tiny kitchen space at the bottom of an apartment building, you will be full for cheap. 3-4 tables outside but you should definitely get it to go and enjoy at your hotel.

I think it is some of the best coffee in Seattle. Great roasts, entertaining baristas (SO LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. DONT FUCK WITH MY PEOPLES THERE! KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ORDER! Ice,Shot Amount,Size,Drink Type, Milk Type), and great value for the quality. 1 Block from the WSCTC.

Excellent sandwiches and the best fries in Seattle (Okay, I think they're great because they're double fried which makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside). Smaller space but they do lunches to go. Good deals on beer.

French cuisine without the snobbery. The chicken for two is one of the best meals you can have at and at $26 it is very affordable. You can also order escargot and steak frites. House wine can be a great value. Smaller space so make reservations or be prepared to wait.

Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast all day this is your prime destination for greasy spoon diner food. 12 egg omelets, good burgers, excellent hand dipped shakes, fried snacks, strong pours. Decent sized space and I've never had to wait for a table.

Open 23.5 hours a day. The menu selection has more traditional american food; Pot roast, chicken fried steak, cheesesteak, open faced sandwiches. The drinks are strong here and the space is a bit small but I've never had to wait.

When I speak of value at a steakhouse, I'm directly speaking about how good is the quality for the price you pay; Metropolitan Grill and The Capital Grille have similar pricing but I find the steaks at Metropolitan Grill better.

This is my favorite steak in Seattle. The steaks are wonderful, the flavor is amazing, the sides are great, the value is very good, the wine stewards are awesome, and the atmosphere is not stuffy or pretentious. The mood and setting of the place make it ideal for friends and family to go get a top quality steak with all the service and knowledge you'd expect from a more expensive place. A dress shirt and nice jeans with black leather shoes is advised.

I had to bust out the Fourth $ because it is considerably more expensive than any other steakhouse in Seattle. It has a dark and old fashioned style atmosphere where the waitstaff is clad in white jackets, and treats you with the upmost care. The steak is excellent and the sides are equally excellent. This is more of a romantic spot and yes, you should dress up to go here; Dress shirt tucked in, black slacks, black leather shoes.

Take the dark and jazzy atmosphere of El Gaucho, the friendly and casual nature of Metropolitan Grill, and add in a unique take on steak (Butter sizzled steak) and you have Ruth's Chris. Despite being a national chain, the quality is excellent, the staff knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices competitive. Dress is considerably more casual; Jeans, Polo or sweater, nice athletic shoes.

Morton's, another national chain, is a bit more formal but just as good as the above. The waiter or waitress will bring around a cart with all their cuts of steak and a live lobster to choose from. A bit more spendy than other places but not on El Gaucho's level. Same dress suggestion as Metropolitan Grill.

Another national chain, good steaks but not the best value. The atmosphere is similar to Metropolitan Grill with friendly and non pretentious waitstaff. One of the big things that makes this a weak recommend for me is that of all the places to eat steak in Seattle, this doesn't excel at any one thing more than any other place. El Gaucho has sleekness and atmosphere, Metropolitan Grill is a great value and has a great inviting atmosphere, Ruth's Chris does their steak uniquely, Morton's does the presentation and portioning well. It doesn't help me that I subliminally know the same parent company of The Capital Grille owns The Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

The Night Kitchen is new (opened on Jan 1st, I believe), and is amazing. It's open from 6pm-9am, serves what one of my friends called "Gourmet Stoner food", and they use local ingredients when they can. I heartily recommend the Beecher's cheese curds.

The owner is really nice and strikes up conversations with guests often. They even have a backroom area that feels like a friend's living room. They encourage you to hang out and play games. I've even walked in on a Sci-Fi story reading!

Definitely check them out and treat your servers well. But save some room for me!

More crafty with 3 locations in Seattle. My fiancee's favorite is the Dragon's Tooth Stout while I prefer The Immortal IPA. Food has received poor reviews in the past but the beer is great. It might be a good idea to eat elsewhere and then head up here to get pissed.

Up in the U-District there is a place that has gotten me through tough times and created so many good times(Heartbreak, Studying,Dates with my fiancee) . Excellent beers covering all the typical styles and pizza, loaded baked potatoes, and nachos. Their Atlas Ale is the most popular there but I really like the Scarlet Fire and Bahgwans Best IPAs.

My favorite Brewpub in Seattle. They have a few year round beers and of those the Luna Weizen is my clear favorite. The food is typical pubfood but I really like their burgers the best of the brewpubs. It's kinda funny but part of the reason I'll be moving from Capitol Hill to West Seattle for this place.

160 Beers on Tap! You'll find Hales, Maritime, Pike Place hell almost any good craft beer AND Belgians here. So help me God if you can't find something you like here. Food is good and different from classic pub fare although sometimes that's all you want.

Located in the Greyhound station building, this place feels like a dive but the food is anything but. It's also ridiculously cheap. Small bowls (which are gigantic) of beef Pho are 6 and change. Don't let appearances fool you, this place is great.

Cheap, Fast, Grubtastic. A Seattle institution for over 50 years, these little burgers are a post drinking ritual. The fries are softer and and oily but so freaking good. The shakes are the final piece of a delicious hang over lunch or 1:30 AM pig out. My fiancee claims that they have magical tartar sauce(which they put on the Special and Deluxe) It should be noted that they have no seating except for their Queen Anne location (Which is not likely where you'll be going). There are few smells in this world that compare to it. I live slightly downwind from the Capitol Hill Dick's on E Thomas St. and on cold nights with a little breeze you will get the craving the instant you smell it. That greasy burger. That American cheese. The fry oil. There are people that will say they aren't that good and I agree, their burgers arent the best burgers in the world. But they own the cheap fast and ridiculous craving inducing market in Seattle.

Primarily a lunch spot this place does cheap Thai right. They also do takeout and not just takeout food but you can get Thai Iced Tea and Coffee to go. I know that caffeine is integral to PAX enjoyment.

Leave the Gyros to Pita Express, this place is traditional Greek with so many great dishes. The
arni kleftiko sto psomi is probably the signature dish there. It's lamb baked insides sourdough bread with feta and onions and other stuff. Smaller space so it may take while to get seated.

I've been here strictly for drinks and happy hour and it doesn't disappoint. The various appetizers are cheap the drinks satisfying, and the space large enough to handle groups of 8-12. I'd order one of everything on the menu.

Located on Alki Beach, the scenery is every bit as good as the pizza. The crust is thick unlike the current trend towards thing crust which makes it unique. Tom's Special is the go to pizza here with sunflower seeds and shredded pepperoni.

This is the place to get your brunch grub on. Crab legs, eggs Benedict, omelet bar, waffles, everything. Yes, it's touristy. Yes, it's buffet. Yes, it's 35 per person. It's so worth it though to eat such good food, have a beautiful view of Seattle with all you can eat. If you set up your reservation through the SCVB concierge you can also get a complimentary shuttle ride to the restaurant.[/

One of the more renowned Italian restaurants in Seattle and a classic date spot, this delivers the atmosphere with live piano, excellent food, and slightly dimmed lighting. With most places like this the wait can take a while especially for larger groups but that shouldn't dissuade you from making the venture

During the summer months this is the spot to relax and drink glass after glass of iced Chai tea. Why? because it's awesome and you get free refills. I swear by Cedar's being one of the best Indian in Seattle. The garlic naan is particularly good, which seems kind of a silly thing to mention but when you're sopping up curry and korma it's great.it can take a while especially for larger groups but that shouldn't dissuade you from making the venture

Basically any place that is hip and delicious will be worse than any PAX line if we recommend it here;

Serious Pie/.5 Miles/Pizza/$$/
Tom Douglas establishment with great pizzas and a long wait. ~Seating for 64 with long fire times for pizza. Communal Seating.

Emmet Watson's Oyster Bar/.6 Miles/Fried Seafood/$$
Fried Oysters, Clams, Fish, French Fries, delicious. Several beers on tap and pitchers to boot. Located in Pike Place Market. Service varies from good to non existent.

Pike Street Fish Fry/.7 Miles/Fried Seafood/$
Up the street/hill from the WSCTC, has Fried Oyster Sandwichs and various fried veggies ranging from asparagus to red bell pepper. Few beers on tap. Located by several bars and open late.

Pike Place Pub and Brewery/.4 Miles/Beer and Pubfood/$$
Excellent beers of several different styles. Food is good too and sticks to mostly pub classics. Large space, friendly and GREAT happy hour deals on beer.

The Saint/.6 miles/Mexican/$$
Delicious and fresh food consisting mostly of smaller bites to eat and good cocktails. Smaller space. Must try a To Go; Jaritos with a shot of Tequila in it.

Sushi Maki/.5 milles/Sushi To Go/$
When Blue C is too busy and you need your sushi roll fix, Sushi Maki is excellent. Rolls the size of your forearms made in a tiny kitchen space at the bottom of an apartment building, you will be full for cheap. 3-4 tables outside but you should definitely get it to go and enjoy at your hotel.

Cafe Ladro/.1 mile/Coffee/$
I think it is some of the best coffee in Seattle. Great roasts, entertaining baristas (SO LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR SHIT TOGETHER. DONT FUCK WITH MY PEOPLES THERE! KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ORDER! Ice,Shot Amount,Size,Drink Type, Milk Type), and great value for the quality. 1 Block from the WSCTC.

Awesome you guys! Thanks! I didn't realize that Pike's Place was so close. I was there for a few hours one time and really enjoyed myself. There was a big festival going on that day so it was super crowded and my daughter decided that it was a good day to let us know she was allergic to penicillin, so I didnt get to see much, but I still would love to go back and wander around.

After looking up some of the websites for the places, Im super excited to try some of the different ice creams at Molly Moon's (Lavender and Meyer Lemon? Yum!) and to get some tequila at The Saint (ingredients like elderflower and cucumber in their cocktails)

My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

Someone help me out with this.

Maybe closer to Pax time, we can set up a #Paxfoodie on twitter or something so people can broadcast where they are going to, "get their grub on" and have an impromptu meet-up.

Honeyhole/.6 Miles/Sandwhiches/$
Excellent sandwiches and the best fries in Seattle (Okay, I think they're great because they're double fried which makes them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside). Smaller space but they do lunches to go. Good deals on beer.

Le Pichet/.6 Miles/French/$$
French cuisine without the snobbery. The chicken for two is one of the best meals you can have at and at $26 it is very affordable. You can also order escargot and steak frites. House wine can be a great value. Smaller space so make reservations or be prepared to wait.

The Hurricane/.6 Miles/Diner & Dive/$
Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast all day this is your prime destination for greasy spoon diner food. 12 egg omelets, good burgers, excellent hand dipped shakes, fried snacks, strong pours. Decent sized space and I've never had to wait for a table.

The 5 Point/1.0 Miles/ Diner & Dive/$
Open 23.5 hours a day. The menu selection has more traditional american food; Pot roast, chicken fried steak, cheesesteak, open faced sandwiches. The drinks are strong here and the space is a bit small but I've never had to wait.

My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

Someone help me out with this.

wait
how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?

My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

Someone help me out with this.

wait
how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?

Metropolitan Grill/.9 Miles/Steak/$$$
This is my favorite steak in Seattle. The steaks are wonderful, the flavor is amazing, the sides are great, the value is very good, the wine stewards are awesome, and the atmosphere is not stuffy or pretentious. The mood and setting of the place make it ideal for friends and family to go get a top quality steak with all the service and knowledge you'd expect from a more expensive place. A dress shirt and nice jeans with black leather shoes is advised.

El Goucho/.8 Miles/Steak/$$$$
I had to bust out the Fourth $ because it is considerably more expensive than any other steakhouse in Seattle. It has a dark and old fashioned style atmosphere where the waitstaff is clad in white jackets, and treats you with the upmost care. The steak is excellent and the sides are equally excellent. This is more of a romantic spot and yes, you should dress up to go here; Dress shirt tucked in, black slacks, black leather shoes.

For National Steak Chains in Seattle

Spoiler:

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse/.1 Miles/Steak/$$$
Take the dark and jazzy atmosphere of El Gaucho, the friendly and casual nature of Metropolitan Grill, and add in a unique take on steak (Butter sizzled steak) and you have Ruth's Chris. Despite being a national chain, the quality is excellent, the staff knowledgeable and friendly, and the prices competitive. Dress is considerably more casual; Jeans, Polo or sweater, nice athletic shoes.

Morton's Steakhouse/.1 miles/Steak/$$$
Morton's, another national chain, is a bit more formal but just as good as the above. The waiter or waitress will bring around a cart with all their cuts of steak and a live lobster to choose from. A bit more spendy than other places but not on El Gaucho's level. Same dress suggestion as Metropolitan Grill.

The Capital Grille/.3 Miles/Steak/$$$
Another national chain, good steaks but not the best value. The atmosphere is similar to Metropolitan Grill with friendly and non pretentious waitstaff. One of the big things that makes this a weak recommend for me is that of all the places to eat steak in Seattle, this doesn't excel at any one thing more than any other place. El Gaucho has sleekness and atmosphere, Metropolitan Grill is a great value and has a great inviting atmosphere, Ruth's Chris does their steak uniquely, Morton's does the presentation and portioning well. It doesn't help me that I subliminally know the same parent company of The Capital Grille owns The Olive Garden and Red Lobster.

When I speak of value at a steakhouse, I'm directly speaking about how good is the quality for the price you pay; Metropolitan Grill and The Capital Grille have similar pricing but I find the steaks at Metropolitan Grill better.

one place I'll recommend is Black Bottle over in Belltown. It's a bit further away, either a longish walk or a short taxi ride on 1st Ave & Vine. Pretty much everything on their menu is good, but the smoked wild boar ribs are amazing and you get a good amount for only $6 (no, that $6 isn't going to be a complete meal, but for the quality it's a really good deal in my opinion). Most of their menu is served like tapas and meant to be shared. The flatbreads are good choices as well. So go with a few friends and order several dishes and share. But definitely get the wild boar ribs.

We should really devote an entire post of 5 Pho/Thai places in Seattle. There's Pho Bac which I go to for lunch and is located in the Greyhound bus station. People are scared and think it's grimey but the prices are awesome and the food is good. After a long trip to NYC Pho Cyclo was the first place where me and my fiancee went to eat since there is a lack of viet food in NYC.

For those few that venture out of downtown, Ocho in Ballard is a tapas bar I really like. The pescado blanco they're serving right now is fantastic. Cod on smashed potatoes with anchovy butter, leeks, jamon, and slivered almonds. They rotate their menu of course so who knows what they'll be serving come PAX, but I'm sure there'll be good eats on the menu.

My problem? I don't have any. All of my PAX friends like to hang around the convention center as much as humanly possible. The farthest away I've been with them to eat is Pacific Place.

So, here's the deal: I think we need some sort of foodie networking here. I'm not very brave about going into restaurants alone. I'm especially not brave about going into restaurants I've never been to alone. With you, though... with you, I can do anything. Eat anything. (Not really. I know this is blasphemy, living on the west coast, but I don't care for sushi, and I can't stand salmon.)

Someone help me out with this.

wait
how can you call yourself a foodie if you're afraid to try new stuff on your own and you not only don't like sushi, but fresh pacific salmon?

LOL, shush.

Social anxiety, dontchaknow?

On the other hand, how can you call yourself a foodie if you haven't made your own butter or charcuterie? (I'm still waffling on ordering pink salt, so I'm starting my first charcuterie project this weekend: Duck breast prosciutto from Ruhlman's book.)

Quinn's/.7 Miles/Eclectic Savory European/$$
Excellent food all around at a moderate price. The burger is amazing as are the frites but that's not even justice to the variety of menu items and how good they are. Excellent beer selection. The space can get kinda crowded on weekend nights.

Bimbo's/.7 Miles/Pacific Northwest Mexican/$$
Interesting Northwest takes on standard mexican fare such as a potato loaded burrito. Burritos are large and filling. Located above The Cha Cha, a bar that I'll cover later so can be good as either a pre drink or post drink snack.

La Spiga/.9 miles/Italian/$$$
Excellent high end Italian food in a comfy and fashionable atmosphere. This is a great place to go out to with 2-4 friends and talk, drink wine, eat a delicious dinner and relax. Plenty of space although can get busy. I went here on a double date with my fiancee and one of my best friends and his GF and we all agreed that it was remarkably good.

Old School Frozen Custard/1.0 Miles/Frozen Custard (It's not Ice Cream)/$
I went when they first opened and offered Coney Island style hot dogs. No more unfortunately but their frozen custard is awesome. The flavors rotate daily and they have a calendar with whats up on the rotation. You'll want to take a few laps around the WSCTC after going here cause it's so rich.

Rancho Bravo/.8 Miles/Mexican Taqueria/$
Housed in an old KFC building this started up a year ago. Being from The Bay Area this is the most satisfying burrito I've had outside of the spots I went to in SF and San Mateo. Surprisingly the thing that is best here isn't the burritos but the tamales. Make sure to get there early though because they do run out of them.

Kell's/.4 Miles/Irish/$$
I'm always happy when I go here for lunch because A. It's not busy B. It's delicious C. They have all the expected Irish beers on tap. Get a ballycastle or Danny Boy some soda bread and a pint and you won't be dissapointed.

The Pink Door/.4 Miles/Italian American/$$
Italian American with lasagna, rigatoni and meatballs and great simple seafood options. It has a great location and can be a great place either for groups or a romantic date. I would really recommend this place if you want to do a bunch of appetizers and wine.

Pike Place Chowder/.4 Miles/Chowder/$
Award winning Chowder with 2 locations; One in Pike Place Market and one in Pacific Place. The classic New England Clam Chowder is great and filling while some of the other menu options like fish n chips are tasty and light. This would be an ideal place to get a quick bite to eat.

Le Panier/.4 miles/French Bakery/$
I buy all my baguettes here but they do more than just that. They have macaroons which are pretty much one of the best French inventions ever and do baguette sandwiches like jambon and dijon, or just straight up brie.

Steelhead Diner/.4 Miles/Soulfood and Pacific Northwest/$$
They have Po Boys, Fried Chiken and Brisket sandwiches but also have a great seafood dinner menu. Portions are generous as is the wine selection. They also serve Poutine, which as many people know, is the crack cocaine of french fry concoctions.

I am going to rename this thread to the "mrt144 knows everything about good food" thread.

The thing that's shocking is that I've been to all these places, most of them more than once, most of them regularly. But my fiancee also cooks at home a lot. Do I eat like 5 meals a day or something:?

Do you live in Seattle currently? I think we're spoiled on beer here. We have SO MANY good options. I'll have to make my way up there and check it out. I live on Capitol Hill and bus it everywhere.

Oh, and just a note for everyone; It's Pike Place, not Pike's Place. I don't really care because I'm in the tourism industry and we hear it all the time but some locals bristle when they hear it. My fiancee included.